Automatic opening mechanism for closet-seat lids



G. E. KINCH.

AUTOMATIC OPEMTNG MECHANISM FOR CLOSET SEAT LTDS'. APPLICATION FILED APR- 13, mm.

1,398,556. A Patented Nov. 29, 1921.

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,a'rsar OFFICE.

GEORGE EDWARD KINGH, 0F QUIRINDI, NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA.

AUTOMATIC OPENING MECHANISM FOR CLOSET-SEAT LIDS.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE EDWARD KINGH, subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at The Poplars, Quirindi, Newfaouth Wales, Australia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Opening Mechanism for Closet-Seat Lids, of which the following is a specification. v

This invention is applicable to closet seat lids, either of the ordinary rear hinged folding type, or of the rearward moving non-reversing type, and consists in an improved means for applying the necessary movements to the seat .lid, said means utilizing the weight of a person using the closet to provide the power required to effect such movement.

The mechanism comprises a metal bow which is pivotally mounted on either side of the seat panel, and link connections between the ends of said bow and the lid.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a rear perspective view of a seat with folding hinged lid with the lid in closed position and fitted with the operating mechanism in which the invention consists; Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the lid (partly broken away) in open position; and Fig. 3 is a front perspective view illustrating the application of the invention to a seat lid of the non-reversing type.

The bow comprises a front transverse portion A forming a press bar which sets across the front edge of the seat panel B, and two lateral portions C which are pivoted at D to the sides of the seat panel B, and at E are connected by pivoted links to the folding plate G which carries the hinge leaves H and the lid K. Obviously the lateral portions C of the bar may be located below the seat panel, the ends being suitably modified to carry the press bar A at and above seat level, and to connect with the links F respectively.

When the press bar A is forced down, the rear ends of the lateral pieces C are moved upward and act through the links F to raise the folding lid on the hinges H, as shown in Fig. 2. The lower ends of the links F are bent so as to coact with the seat to limit the opening movement of the lid. The lid is held open by the weight of a person acting' upon the press bar A. The lid falls closed by gravity.

In the arrangement shown 1n F 1g. 3 the Specification of LetterslEatent. Patgnted NOV 29, 1921. Application filed April 13, 1917.

Serial No. 161,919.

operation is identical, but in this case the lid.

' The lid K is hinged to the'arms L at the ends of a rib on the upper surface of the lid,

and is so balanced that it assumes by gravity the position shown in Fig. 3, thus during the closing movement the lid hangs freely from its pivots with its forward edge advanced and remains so until said edge contacts with the seat, when the lid is swung about its pivots in a clockwise direction until it is in horizontal closed position. The hinge plate Gr serves as a stop for thelower end of the lid when it is raised and it then acts to cause the lid to tip backward and so insure that in the closing movement the lower edge will be advanced so-that the lid will close in a non-reversing motion to the position shown in the dotted lines.

The press bar A sets above the seat level (see Fig. 1) when the lid is closed; when the lid is fully opened the press bar A sets at seat level or approximately so (see Fig. 2).

The same letters of reference indicate corresponding or identical parts in all the figures.

What I claim as my invention and-desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. The combination with a closet seat of an automatically closing seat lid pivotally supported from said seat, said lid being so balanced that its upper side is brought forward in the open position, mechanism operable to open said lid, consisting of a press bar adjacent the front of the seat, side arms carrying said'bar at their forward ends and pivoted to said seat at points intermediate their ends, and connecting members between the rear ends of said arms and said lid.

2. The combination with a closet seat, of a gravity closing seat lid connected to the seat by long hinge leaves and so balanced that its upper side is brought forward in the open position, a folding carrier attached to said leaves, and opening mechanism oper points intermediate their ends, and c0nnecting members between the rear ends of said arms and said carrier, said carrier providing a stop to check the rearward movement of the lower portion-of the lid.

3. The combination with a closet seat, of means hingedly connected to the rear of said seat, a seat lid pivotally carried by the forward end of said means, the forward edge of said lid being at all times in advance of its pivotal axis, and, in the open position be low said axis, mechanism operable to open said lid, and connecting means between said opening mechanism and said lid including a folding carrier adapted to check the rear ward movement of said lid.

4. The combination with a closet seat, of an automatically closing seat lid pivotally supported from said seat, said lid being so balanced that its upper side is brought forward in the open position, and means pivotally mounted upon said seat and extending in front thereof and actuated by the weight of a person for holding said lid in the open position.

5. The combination with a closet seat, of means hingedly connected to the rear of said seat, a seat lid pivotally carried by the forward end of said means, the forward edge of said lid being at all times in advance of its pivotal axis and in the open position below said axis, manually operable opening means movably mounted on said seat and connections between the last mentioned means and said lid.

6. The combination with a closet seat of an automatically closed seat lid pivotally supported from said seat, said lid being so balanced that its upper side is brought forward in the open position, mechanism operable to open said lid, consisting of a press bar adjacent the seat, side arms carrying said bar at their forward ends and pivoted to said seat at points intermediate their length, and connections between the rear ends of said arms and said lid, said connections including members co-acting with the peat to limit the opening movement of the 7. The combination with a substantially fiat closet seat and a seat lid hingedly connected thereto, of a pair of side members pivotally mounted on said seat at the sides thereof, a member extending between the forward ends of the first named members and rigidly connecting the same, said member extending adjacent the front edge of the seat and occupying a position above said seat when the lid is closed, and means operable by the depression of said member for positively raising the seat lid.

8. The combination as claimed in claim 7, wherein said means comprises members pivotally connected to the rear ends of the first named members and to the seat lid.

9. The combination as claimed in claim 7, wherein the member extending between the forward ends of the first named memhers is integral therewith.

10. The combination as claimed in claim 7, wherein said means includes members coacting with the seat to limit the opening movement of the lid.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE EDWARD KINCH.

itnesses: 7

WILLIAM PoLLooK, A. G. Soo'r'r. 

